Well the month of May has started with the warmest and most delightful day of the year. Blue Sky a real blog day.
The count for the day was 42 with several birds missing from count, but an added list tick with a fly over HOBBY. Catching dragonflies on the wing and doing ariel anticks. Watched a GREY HERON swallow a freshwater ell, nearly to big. But after 20 minuets it went down. SEDGE, WILLOW, REED, CETTIES, BLACKCAP all put in an appearance.
With spring here it was with hope that I had a walk round. The best was the return of LESSER WHITETHROAT with three birds interacting rathe platonically. One was rather well worn and just come in. Poor things to think how far they have to travel just to find us. Also COMMON WHITETHROAT three and what with three SWALLOWS flitting on the surface of the lake. Species 27 for the day. As for butterflies ORANGE TIP a female just emerged.
The best species count of the year. With 32 in all. With three Torteshell and a single Peacock.
Early spring day after a long cold period the sun returns. It sounds all ok and feels somewhat better. The walk around was the best this year with the first returning blackcaps and again the Cetti's made itself known. A pair of Goldcrest which must be breeding near by. But an on odd event was a trio of jay's. Theses birds where oddly interacting. There was an obvious pair but a very vocal interloper. As for the pair they were chasing each other around the tree which was interposed by, I assume her giving a chip. A very odd call and I can say never heard it before. After 5 or 6 chips he would approach and she would fly of to another perch. If I place a vid on here you may be able to hear the chip.
The thing is the best time was on our wedding anniversary when we spent a few hours near the Lodge at WALBERSWICK. With several BUZZARD about and a single MARSH HARRIER but to hear my first WHITETHROAT of the year. With GREEN WOODPECKER and the definitive call of a male PEACOCK.
Also Pathways was rather drab to say the least, but several PEACOCK butterflies and a pair of PIED WAGTAIL what can you say.
Today at Carlton SWT was interesting as the disability scoter managed a puncture. Good that Lewis came to the rescue. But with nine SAND MARTIN, GWE, and a very handsome NORTHEREN WHEATEAR it was all well worth while. SKYLARK, SEADGE and REED WARBLER.
A regular look around with nothing out of the ordinary. But good to hear three CHIFFCHAFF and AVOCET, MARSH HARRIER, With 32 species in all. But the best of the week was a fly over COMMON SANDPIPER which brings my house list to 104.
Out on the marsh with three BITTERN calling and an increase in LITTLE EGERET. Also just one REED BUNTING and a pair of MARSH HARRIER. Altogether 33 species but the best was an obliging SPARROWHAWK.
Well a regular job at Carlton Marsh SWT, but wat made this one different was that I made use of the disability scooter. Sad but at least I got out on the reserve, so thanks to the team. Species list was 29 for the day, but the benefit of the scooter was that the JAY came out of hiding to show itself.
